Kept myself in the hotel room watching HBO for two days . The finding of largely reduced my sense of guilty for not being anywhere when in another city. Right in the first 2 minutes I was attracted by its humorous dialogue, special shooting and floating Ukrainian music. If a movie is able to catch you in the first 2 minutes, you have to go on with it till end.
Jonathan Safran Foer, An American Jewish young man, went to Ukraine to look for a village called "Trachimbrod", where his grand father was saved by an Ukrainian girl during World War II. He wore big, black-framed glassed and black suites. Likes to collect things, say, a bottle of hand cream from a train, a peice of potato that was supposed to be his dinner but unfortunately fell to the ground, and a small insect crawling across the sunflower field. His guide was a Ukrainian young man Alex, who liked American pop culture such as Michael Jackson and punk. The driver, Alex's grandfather, was a weird and easily irratated old man. The 4th member was a "mentally deranged" little dog of the family, which had an odd name:Sammy Davis Jr. Jr.
II.In the middle
I started the movie in relaxation, but it became heavier an heavier as the story went on. Merry Russian melody gradually turned to a sad tune . The truth was closer. On the beautiful vast land of sunflower there used to be blood and violence. How can you forget? It's carved in your bones and embeded in your muscles. It's not gone with the wind but buried under the earth, under the flowers, along the river and in the sunshine.
III.After the movie
Some people choose to remember. Jonathan has been trying to collect things he met in his life, in case of "forget things that happend". Lista has kept those old staff for decades of years, in memory of the dead and waiting for those who are coming.
Some people choose to forget. Alex's grandfather tried to get rid of his miserable past with life long efforts.
It's easy to remember but hard to forget. That's why Alex's grandfather killed himself in the end, lying in the bathtub with great contentment, just like the moment he was born. Perhaps only death can release.
IV.Beyond the movie
The past is always with you. Every part of your body is able to remember, even if you yourself try to wipe them off from your mind.
They are with you, giving unexpected bits of hurt on heart at some moments of life, till your last breath.
2005年09月16日上映
